Abstract

Biobele Richards Briggs

The study undertakes to identify the issues affecting Ugandan indigenous entrepreneurs engaged in trade with regard to their deficient entrepreneurial traits in addition to other environmental factors that affect them. Descriptive survey method was employed and samples were drawn from 10 areas, purposive sampling method was used to select the samples from 75 Ugandan indigenous traders and 12 institution based respondents. Descriptive statistics (simple percentages) was employed to analyze the responses. The survey revealed that Ugandan indigenous traders lack requisite entrepreneurial traits like sincerity, innovation, business skills, risk taking propensity and effective management. It was established that factors such as lack of dependable business relationship, lack of capital, low market patronage, competition and inadequate government support also affect Ugandan indigenous entrepreneurs engaged in trade. Based on the findings, a number of recommendations have been made such as the development of requisite entrepreneurial traits by the indigenous entrepreneurs engaged in trade and government support.